Oxford United's season is effectively over after they could only draw with the Londoners for the second time this season.

They again failed to hang on to a hard-earned lead, and their second successive draw over the Easter period has surely put to bed any lingering thoughts of making the play-offs.

A fine attacking display from Chris Hackett, and goals from strikers Steve Basham and Tommy Mooney, counted for little because they couldn't keep out the goals at the other end against a very young Orient side.

And that sums up Oxford United's season. Three clean sheets from the last 24 matches simply isn't good enough.

This was an entertaining enough game for the neutrals, but a very disappointing one for United supporters.

They made the worst possible start, conceding a goal in just 17 seconds - the quickest scored at the Kassam Stadium, and the fastest in Orient's history.

It came straight from Orient's kick-off as Leo Roget attempted to chest the ball back to Chris Tardif but failed to get enough purchase on it, and in nipped Lee Steele.

Tardif made a smothering first save but Steele pounced on the loose ball and then slipped the ball into the goal from a very tight angle.

It was another bad lapse of concentration and blunder from Roget, and had the visitors scored again, as they should have done, two minutes later, the match would probably have been over.

Once again United's defence was all over the place as an unmarked Brian Saah headed over Tardif but saw the ball bounce across the face of the goal, with Gary Alexander just unable to reach it to turn it in.

The U's eventually woke up following a wild challenge on Matt Robinson which earned full back Donny Barnard a yellow card.

And they were level on 17 minutes thanks to a fine piece of predatory skill from Basham.

He was just outside the area, and there appeared to be little on, when he turned and shot left-footed low past keeper Glen Morris's right hand and into the bottom corner of the goal.

Orient had six scholars in their 16-man squad and boss Martin Ling axed former United striker Andy Scott.

Players on both sides were guilty of sloppiness, but Jon Ashton showed good defensive awareness to go with his pace as he ran the ball away from danger before slipping a weighted pass to Chris Hackett.

Most of United's attacking moves began with Hackett, putting his head down and sprinting with the ball alongh the right.

He also sent over some quality free-kicks and corners, an aspect of his game that has greatly improved this season.

Mooney went close to putting Oxford in front just before the break when he outjumped Justin Miller at the far post only to see his downward header flash a yard wide.

The O's were creating just as many openings as they enjoyed the better of the midfield exchanges, but twice Tardif was bravely off his line to save.

On the occasion he saved at Alexander's feet, after the Orient striker had miscontrolled the ball, he got clattered for his bravery.

Mooney and Basham frequently linked cleverly, and none more so than in the 41st minute when Mooney chipped in a cross from the left and Basham struck a sweet volley over the bar from 14 yards. He probably should have scored.

Attacking the Oxford Mail Stand in the second half, United seemed to play with more freedom, Juan Pablo Raponi in particular finding much more space.

It was a superb run and cross by Hackett which set up the U's second goal. Basham reached it with an outstretched foot and the ball then struck Orient defender Gabby Zakuani on the hand.

A thousand voices screamed for a penalty, but the ref ignored them.

However, almost immediately, Barry Quinn crossed from the right to the far post and Mooney scored with a low angled volley.

Hackett continued to mesmerise, and hurt Orient, with his darting runs and Basham almost made it 3-1 with a shot at a corner which was cleared from in front of his goalline by Michael Simpson.

And Simpson was to have a purple patch, for a few minutes later he had made it 2-2.

United were caught on the break, Steele set up Alexander for a 20-yard shot and Simpson diverted it in past a helpless Tardif.

Four minutes from the end and United had almost turned victory into defeat as Alexander headed against the post from Steele's cross.

When the final whistle sounded, there was a resigned feel around the ground. The home supporters knew that was it.